Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-04-30
Fight witt, u Bear.

Rev. Mr.. Webb, a minister of the Baptist
faith, who is we'll known in the interior
counties of West Virginia. had rough time
of it few days ago while travelling through
the woods The section of country to which
his duties call him is sparsely settled and is
full of game and bears, wildcats and pan
Tiers. The preacher had repeatedly been
advised to carry revolver or gun, but
never went armed with anything more
formidable than q pocket.knfe before his re.
cent encounter. On his last trip over the
mountains the preacher was quietly walk
ing along the top OF q ridge which was
thickly covered with heavy timber, when
he was rudely interrupted by pig-like
grunt directly in front of him. Raising his
eyes, expecting to see a stray hog, be found
himself face TO face with a large bear, whose
swapping little eyes betrayed an intention to
discuss the right of way with the reverend
gentleman L1r. Webb threw up his hands
and shouted at Bruin and advanced in
threatening manner, expecting to gee the
bear amble away in fright. But the unor-
thodox brute didn't run; on the contrary,
he reared up on his hind legs and advanced
toward the minister in threatening man.
ner, with mouth open and his black paws
stretched out ready 10 embrace his op-
ponent in warm if not aflectlonate man
ner. The preacher lodged behind large
oak tree and drew his pocllet-knife. Just
as the bear reached the tree the Doctor
lodged around to the other side, but was
quickly followed by the bear. The subse-
quent proceedings interested the Doctor to
such an extent that he forgot the text for
IL. do =. VII q
been Illuminating. Round and round they
scurried; sometimes the bear would get close
enough 10 reach the Doctors coat sleeve or
skirt on which occasion he would eliminate
portion of the Doctors apparel, and the
Doctor would return the compliment by
pluncinc the knife blade into the bear
paws, neck or nose. In uhort time the
Doctor was almost completely stripped of
coat sleeves and skirt, and had number OF
severe scratches on his arms and body,
while the bear had received dozen or so of
cuts and stabs from the preachers knife. 1t
didn't take many minutes Of this exercise to
convince the preacher that he was not an
adept in killing bears, and he concluded
to climb tree. BY lucky stroke he
stucl, bis knife into the eye of the brute, which
lay down and whined pitifully. Taking
advantage of the opportunity, Webb ran to
the nearest tree with low-lyiDg branches and
scrambled up, but was none too soon, for
the bear was on his feet and after him before
he reached a safe limb. A bear is an excel
lent climber, aud in trice was in the tree
with Webb, who began to crawl further out
on the limb. The bear followed him up un.
til he was within fonr or five feet Of Webb,
when the limb began to settle towards the
ground. Bruin hesitated moment, and
then carefully advanced until he was within
reach of Webb's arm, when the latter lunged
out for the bears sound eye and succeeded
in plungiDg his knife into the brutes head.
The bear lost his balance and fell to the
ground. The limb, which had been thus
bent at an angle of forty degrees by the
combined weight Of preacher and bear, sud-
denly flew back to its natural position,
throwing the preacher into the air. His
descent was more rapid than graceful, and
he landed almost Oh top of the bear, which
was by this time getting upon mis- feet; Webb
was not hurt by the fall, and before the bear
could get his sound eye in proper bearing
Webb stabbed him in the neck and severed
the ugular vein. In another moment Brun
was dead at the preachers feet.